What does "greenwashing" refer to?

"Greenwashing" refers to a deceptive marketing strategy where a company or organization presents itself as environmentally friendly or committed to sustainability while, in reality, its practices do not reflect genuine concern for the environment. This term combines "green," representing eco-friendliness, and "whitewashing," which means to conceal unpleasant facts about something. Companies may engage in greenwashing to attract consumers who are increasingly concerned about purchasing sustainable products, even though their actual environmental practices may be harmful or not as green as claimed.

In contrast, promoting true environmental benefits speaks to genuine efforts and practices that legitimately support environmental sustainability, while improving industrial processes sustainably focuses on the real integration of environmentally sound practices in operations. Policies aimed at reducing carbon footprints genuinely seek to lower greenhouse gas emissions for climate change mitigation purposes, rather than misleading consumers about such efforts. Therefore, C is the most accurate depiction of greenwashing as it highlights the deceptive nature of the marketing strategy employed.